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BAY PINES , FL — The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted a three-year accreditation to the cancer program at Bay Pines VA

Healthcare System (BPVAHCS). To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and

maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.  Bay Pines VA has maintained accreditation for more than 30 years. We are the only VA in Florida, and

one of 32 VAs in the country, that is CoC accredited. Because we are a CoC-accredited cancer center, BPVAHCS takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of

diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership

results in improved patient care.  “I’m proud, but not surprised, that our facility continues to maintain this accreditation,” said Paul M. Russo, Director/CEO, BPVAHCS. “This achievement

simply validates what I’ve come to know during my time here; Bay Pines VA has some of the most dedicated staff in the country. We will always strive to provide only the highest quality of

care to our Veterans, especially those who are most vulnerable.” Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to

improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its

membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. For more information, visit: www.facs.org/cancer. Like all CoC-accredited facilities, BPVAHCS maintains a cancer registry and

contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society. This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease

registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to

information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality

improvement efforts.   “The COC’s program requirements are constantly evolving, reflecting the ever-increasing complexity of cancer care,” said Huma Syed, M.D., Chief, Radiation Oncology,

Bay Pines VA. “This means our program is not the same one it was three decades ago. Maintaining this accreditation highlights Bay Pines VA’s commitment to keeping pace with the changing

field of oncology.” The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for Bay Pines VA to continue improving its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus

on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life

care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including

psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.